The Hospitality Hyphenate: Lessons in Restaurant Entrepreneurship with Liz Mendez

From sommelier to restaurateur to hospitality consultant, Liz Mendez has built a career rooted in community, beverage expertise, and reinvention.In this episode of The Perfect Bite, host Sarah Perkins sits down with Liz Mendez, founder of Aldea Hospitality, to talk about building sustainable careers in the restaurant industry, the rise of non-alcoholic beverage programs, and what it really takes to open — and close — a restaurant.Liz shares her journey from Chicago wine professional to opening the beloved Spanish wine bar Vera, the lessons learned from entrepreneurship, and how she now helps hospitality professionals design more balanced careers through consulting, education, and her concept of the “hospitality hyphenate.”This conversation covers:Becoming a sommelier and working in Chicago restaurantsOpening and running a Spanish wine bar focused on sherryThe realities of restaurant ownership and closing a businessTransitioning into consulting and hospitality techBuilding Aldea Hospitality and coaching industry professionalsThe rise of non-alcoholic and dealcoholized wine and Liz’s refocus on these productsCreating sustainable careers in hospitalityWhy community and mentorship matter in entrepreneurshipWhether you’re a restaurant owner, beverage professional, or founder in food & beverage, Liz shares practical advice on building a creative career that evolves over time.To learn more about Aldea Hospitality, visit www.aldeahospitality.com. You can follow Liz on social media @mendezmusings. Subscribe to Liz’s Substack The Luncheonette!Subscribe to The Perfect Bite podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen! Want to watch the entire episode? Head here to our YouTube!You can follow us on social media @perfectbitepod and sign up for our newsletter on Substack!